A SEMINARON

PARENTAL CARE IN HERBIVORES MAMMALS

PAPER –301

ASSAM UNIVERSITY,SILCHAR

Submitted to:Dr.Hilloljyoti singha.Department of ecology and environmental science Submitted by:

SUBRATA PAULMsc.3rd semRoll no.31

Introduction

In herbivores mammals, parental care is much

different from other animals. Once the animals have

produced young they decide whether they will care for

the offspring or desert them. Caring of offspring

requires time and energy. Mainly parental care is

much preferred to female as males make many small

gametes and exhibit little or no parental care. Mating

and parental go hand in hand.

Forms of parental care

1. Nest, burrows or territories.

2. Production of gametes.

3. Care of eggs.

4. Care of young without provisioning from sources

outside the egg.

5. Provisioning young before hatching or birth.

6. Provisioning young after hatching or birth.

7. Care of young after nutritional independence.

8. Social assistance to mature offspring.

Types

Maternal care

It covers all aspects of the female’s

activity of taking her newborn baby until it

reaches its mature stage.

Paternal care

It covers male parental care of animals.

External fertilization is common as reliability of paternity is higher.

Biparental care

It forms a parental care given by both male and

females. Care comprises of egg guarding, grooming,

protecting etc.

In mice also, female in nest simultaneously

nursing and licking a pup and at the same time, the

male in nest and in contact with another pup.

HIPPOPOTAMUSHippopotamus amphibius

Gestation period is 8 months, usually 2 calves are born and birth takes place in shallow water.

GIRRAFEGiraffa camelopardus

Baby giraffe is 6ft.tall. Female giraffe looks after her calf until about 13 to 16 months old.

AFRICAN ELEPHANTLoxodonta africana

Immediately after birth, the mother assist the calf to stand.

KANGAROOMacropus gigantieus

Kangaroo are born immature before ears, eyes or hinds are developed.

HORSEEquus ferus caballus

The mother licks

the foal clean, where

it is covered in slime, blood.

GOATCapra aegagrus

The mother give proper grooming and hoof care.

A baby goat are led to sleep in dry straw with small shed or barn available for protection or sleep.

DUGONGDugong dugon

Known as sea cow,seapig or sea animal.

Mother and calves are in almost constant physical contact and calves have been known to reach out and touch theirs mother with their flippers for assurance.

EASTERN GORILLA Gorilla beringei

Newborn gorillas have greyish pink skin and can crawl after 9 weeks.Weaning doesn’t occur for 3 years of age.

OKAPIOkapia johnstoni

Zebra like stripes, to help young okapis follow their mother through the dark forest, have long tongue to pull new leaves off. Newborn okapis stand up within 30 mins of birth.

GAZELLEGazella sp.

Females licks thefawn clean of amnioticfluid and tissues,whichserves to stimulateblood circulation.

Benefits of parental care

Enhance surviving to adulthood.

Branches.

Investment

Parent’s offspring conflict

Conflict of interest between parents and offspring arelikely to arise that may influence the level of parentalinvestment and depress the mean fitness of both parentsand offspring.

Parents and offspring share 50% of its genes. Periodsof evolutionary conflict between parents and theiroffspring might be expected to give rise to overtbehavioral conflict such as when mothers and offspring‘disagree’ over the time of weaning.

At some time, a parent will reserve investment forfuture offspring rather than investing in the current one,while the current offspring will disagree.

Conclusion

Parental care among animals is determined by the

payoffs from caring and from deserting. This

payoffs from caring may be and increased survival

of the young and the chance of retaining the mate

for future breeding. Among mammals, parental

care is given mostly by females as males are

making effort in pursuing new mates or defending

their territories.

References

Kelly Damron:2008;kangaroo care.

Mark Mc Ginley:2009;Eastern gorilla:Theencyclopedia of earth.

Mart R.Gross:2005;The evolution of parental care.

Bart Kempenaers and Ben C. Sheldon :1997; Study of paternity and parental care.

Eduardo Fernandez,Claudia R.Valeggia and Sally P.Mendoza:2009;The Biology of paternal care in human and non human primates.

Hengyi Rao, Laura Betancourt, Joan M,Gianetta:2009;Early parental care is important for hippocampal maturation.

Michael F.Whiting:1993;Lamarck,giraffe,and Sermon on the mount.

Dr Debra Bourne; Parental behavior with literature reports for the African Elephant.

THANK YOU